Could a lifelike manikin torso help improve pediatricians’ understanding of undescended testicles? That’s the hope of Eric Bortnick, MD, a fellow in Boston Children’s Department of Urology whose new simulation- and video-based educational tool aims to improve the diagnosis and management of this condition. Also known as cryptorchidism, undescended testicles are common congenital anomalies in which one or more of a baby’s testicles have not moved into the proper position. Prompt diagnosis through a thorough physical exam, typically followed by surgery, can help prevent future complications, suc ..read more

Don’t let this month’s coloring pages “bug” you! MAC_30438_ColoringPages_May_Bugs_Flowers_Horiz-1Download MAC_30438_ColoringPages_May_Bugs_Flowers_Horiz-2Download MAC_30438_ColoringPages_May_Bugs_Flowers_Horiz-3Download Images: Adobe Stock/Illustration: David Chrisom Get more coloring pages, news, and tips for your family from our weekly newsletter. Sign up now! The post May 2024 coloring pages appeared first on Boston Children's Answers ..read more

Aimee is more than just Mum to three-year-old Arwen and one-year-old Cedric; she’s their guide to navigating Stickler syndrome, a genetic connective tissue disorder that can cause an underdeveloped jaw and airway obstruction (collectively known as Robin sequence), as well as cleft palate, vision and hearing difficulties, and other findings. As a carrier herself, Aimee has firsthand experience with the effects of Stickler syndrome and has watched her own mother manage the condition. To Aimee, her journey has prepared her to help her children understand Stickler syndrome and appreciate the care ..read more

Wynton “Wynn” Smith-Webb is “the most inquisitive kid you’ll ever meet,” laughs his mother, Amber. At just 3 years old, he’s intrigued by science, nature, travel, and even medicine. It’s a mindset he might have picked up from Amber, a professor who says she lives “knee-deep” in data every day. So when Wynn recently began experiencing urinary tract infections (UTIs), the first question on the family’s lips was, “Why?” Because recurrent UTIs in boys can be a sign of a larger problem, doctors typically recommend further testing to rule out an underlying structural anomaly or blockage. Recurrent U ..read more

Moyamoya disease is a rare condition that affects the blood vessels in the brain, especially in children. Narrowing and blockage of vessels significantly increases the risk of stroke and requires surgical revascularization for treatment. Although research shows that outcomes of revascularization are better at high-volume centers, insurers often hesitate to approve out-of-network care. However, a team from the Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventions Center at Boston Children’s Hospital found that allowing patients access to out-of-network high-volume centers for surgical revascularization can ..read more

Thousands of fans around the globe have watched it, but very few people can do it. The quadruple Salchow, also known as the quad, requires that a skater launch themself into the air, spin four times, and land on one leg — ideally without falling or wobbling. The best figure skaters make skills like the quad look effortless. But most people don’t see the hours of high-impact training or the stress it puts on the body. “Whenever you land a quad, you’re landing with seven to eight times your body weight,” says skater Max Naumov. “And you’re doing that constantly.” Max landed his first quad when h ..read more

Lucas Toro has a lot in common with Gekko, the cartoon character from PJ Masks. They’re both “little guys” whose strength surprises people. And they both use their muscles for good. Getting strong is a new feeling for Lucas — one he’s using to blaze new trails for other kids. In September 2023, he became the first child in Massachusetts to receive a newly approved gene therapy outside of a clinical trial for the most severe form of muscular dystrophy. In years to come, his progress will help doctors and researchers understand how the new therapy works so they can continue to advance treatments ..read more

Being a gastroenterology nurse is more than a profession for Maeve Lee. When she cares for patients with feeding tubes, she’s also paying it forward. More than two decades ago, Maeve experienced many of the same challenges her patients face today. Medical mystery At first, Maeve seemed like a perfectly healthy newborn, but then she turned purple when her mother tried to feed her, a problem that continued every time she tried to feed. “We really did not believe it was possible she couldn’t swallow properly,” recalls her mother, Annemarie. Swallowing problems can stem from a wide range of health ..read more

Miley is the first girl born into her family in almost a generation. Hearing the delivery team announce, “It’s a girl,” is a moment her mom, Nicole, and her dad, Mike, will always remember.  “We just cried,” says Nicole. “I’ll never forget that moment.” But what they also discovered at delivery was something else they weren’t expecting. Miley had webbed fingers and toes, a condition called syndactyly, and her skull looked large — a symptom of craniosynostosis, which is when the skull bones fuse too early. “I noticed her hands and then her head,” Mike says of seeing his daughter for the fi ..read more

When nutritious, high-quality food is not easily accessible, families are often left to purchase what is available — usually, highly processed, nutrient-poor food. Children in these households — who also have food insecurity and various socio-economic stressors — face additional barriers and are at risk for developing chronic diseases, such as obesity.  To address such concerns, Alison Wu, MD, and Jason (Yanjia) Zhang, MD, PhD, in Boston Children’s Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition are tackling childhood obesity and food insecurity where their patients are — directly ..read more